Weaknesses: Everything that's a problem for acne! Most products won't help acne, but will irritate skin with alcohol and menthol; BHA products not formulated at correct pH range to exfoliate, and also contain needless irritants.

This anti-acne line sold at drugstores has been around for years, and has gone through its share of owners, none of whom have ever produced a comprehensive, practical line of products capable of addressing the needs of those battling blemishes. Current owner Mentholatum, which purchased Oxy from GlaxoSmithKline in 2004, has been busy re-positioning the line to appeal to men, hence the sleek yet masculine black packaging and color-coded labels. The new look may draw the attention of men (and teen males) suffering with acne, but regrettably, this is not one-stop shopping and, poof, your blemishes are history. Treating and managing acne is never that simple, and the most you can net from shopping Oxy is a selection of good benzoyl peroxide products. That's a good place to start, but steer clear of the other problematic Oxy products, and instead venture over to another section of the drugstore and pick up a gentle, water-soluble cleanser from Clean & Clear, a well-formulated BHA product from Neutrogena, and (for women) a matte-finish foundation with sunscreen from Revlon, and you're on your way to a smart, over-the-counter routine to battle blemishes. Yes, it would be more convenient to simply shop Oxy and get the same things, but this line has always had more shortcomings than positives—so knowing what to choose will help you avoid irritation and frustration.